A heavyweight phaser battle

[kevteop]

Anyway, here's the list. At the moment I've still got the EP-1, the Psilocybe, the DOD 490 and the Maxon.

Nice to see another player with a DOD 490. I think it's a very nicely voiced phaser for bass, but I've never come across any other bassist using one.

For anyone who hasn't tried one: It's very deep. Gurgly and subvert and tasty. Shame about the lack of an LED. I don't want to add one to mine because it looks so nifty.

 

[Jared Lash]

The DOD 490 is a strange little beast.

I'm used to turning the depth/resonance (regen on the DOD) up all the way for using phasers on bass, that I was surprised at how much I had to dial it down. This thing can pulse like nobody's business. Other than experimenting when it first arrived, I very rarely put either knob past noon although turning the resonance up a ways with a slow speed and playing staccato gives an interesting voicing to the notes. Cranking both knobs all the way gives this UFO, underwater tremolo sound.

The pulse on this thing is so thick that I felt I had to put it in the loop of my Barge because the sweep is pretty quiet at it's lowest point.

It's the opposite of the Maxon - hugely thick but not at all versatile. It does big, chewy, slow phasing really well.

It sounds good with fuzz, but seems to "swallow up" an overdrive.

 

[grygrx]

I dub the "Phaser man"

 

[funkometer]

If you can find you, try the Akai Intelliphase.

Yesh

 

[Jared Lash]

BigO - I don't know if you've talked to David Koltai @ Pigtronix or maybe try to get in touch w/ Vern Andru on here. I bet you'd like the Marv Mod on the EP-1.. just an idea.

I already know that I like the Marv Mod on the EP-1.

There was a point where I thought about getting a completely tricked out EP-1 so I tried a Marv'ed one that a friend of a friend has. Good stuff. If I went that route I'd get mine modded like Verne Andru, especially with an expression control of resonance.

But at the end of the day, my issue with the Pig was that I liked but didn't love the phaser and the filter, while near the very top of my list in terms of tone, just doesn't cut through the mix like I want. But I've kept the Pigtronix still, so maybe I should trick it out for a "fun" board.

 

[Jared Lash]

Quick question for anyone who might know.

I know of a Mutron Phasor II selling for $300. Is that a reasonable price?

 

[excane]

I know this thread is a few months old, but I recently tried a Retro-Sonic phaser and absolutely loved it. It's based on the older MXR design, but what really sold me was the effect level control.

 

[Jared Lash]

Haven't tried the Retro Sonic. At this point, unless there's a compelling reason to I've stopped trying 9V FET based phasers (MXR style) as they aren't my favorite tone and I don't like the way they clip with my active basses.

That said, as Phase 90 variants go it looks like a good one. Of the ones I've tried I liked the Maxon pT999 the best, but as I said, I haven't tried the Retro Sonic.

 

[smo]

Now I know this pedal can't compete with some of these deluxe phasers out there - but I've settled on a Morrison Audio Effects Phaser.
AFAIK it's based on the Phase 90 - it's a nice phaser that works quite well for the lower notes too.
It's definitely got some changes to the circuit board - as the last time I tried an active bass with a phase90 I had it farting out quite badly. Not so with the Morrison.

I doubt it's thick enough for you BigO - but it's just fine if anyone likes a good definition of the original tone to shine through in a wobbly sort of way

 

[xsubs]

However I DO want a phaser on my board so I'm not sure what direction to go. I may try out the Tap-A-Phase, though right now I'm thinking the Psilocybe is the way to go for a thick phase. Other than that? I am considering going back to the Nano Stone that I sold quite a while ago. I didn't love that phaser either, but I was OK with not loving it considering the price tag.

I recently added the Nano SS to my board thanks to all the great reviews here, including your comments BigO!
It's funny how we all GAS for stuff... try it... then end up where we were before!
The Nano isn't perfect but it sounds great, especially with bass guitar. The price tag, as you mentioned, makes it a worthy addition to anyone's pedalboard...
Good luck in your quest!

 

[fishtx]

i just picked up a used Psilocybe "cheap"...looking forward to test driving it...

 

[Jared Lash]

i just picked up a used Psilocybe "cheap"...looking forward to test driving it...

The Psilocybe is nice. Especially good with dirt.

 

[lowbass68]

The Psilocybe is nice. Especially good with dirt.

+1 to that. So far it's my favorite phaser to use with dirt.

 

[OhThePeacock]

I was hoping you gave that phantasm a good review cause I was thinking about getting one but I'm second thinking that now.

 

[fightthepower]

I've always liked the small stone sound, but needed something more versatile. I finally found a good deal on a used Polyphase a couple weeks ago hoping that it would be very similar to the small stone, but with much more control; well it definitely has much more control, but it's too subtle compared to the small stone- almost like the stone without the color switched and the res dimed on the polyphase. Great sound but too subtle.. too much clean signal coming through. The envelope follower sounds great as well, but too much clean signal.

It was an easy sale, and a moog phaser popped up in the classifieds last week- It got here a couple days ago and it sounds great. It can actually get closer to the small stone tone than the polyphase can, imo, and it sounds great. Obviously has a lot of versatility being a moog, but just has a really cool thick, watery tone. I've only spent a few minutes with it, as I've spent a gross amount of hours redoing my boards last couple days, but I'm very pleased with it so far Great phaser.

 

[ZombiCrow]

The new Earthquaker Devices Grand Orbiter is based on the DOD 490. What's the DOD sound like compared to the Small Stone?

 

[Jared Lash]

The new Earthquaker Devices Grand Orbiter is based on the DOD 490. What's the DOD sound like compared to the Small Stone?

Much thicker. Less wash in the high end and a more prominent pulse.

 

[Godbody]

Just read the whole thread, and I was riveted the entire time.

One question I must ask- what would you recommend for the budget-conscious phaser shopper? I'm trying to keep my pedalboard less expensive than my bass.

 

[Jared Lash]

Just read the whole thread, and I was riveted the entire time.

One question I must ask- what would you recommend for the budget-conscious phaser shopper? I'm trying to keep my pedalboard less expensive than my bass.

In terms of production model stuff, I don't think you can beat the Nano Small Stone as a buget phaser. Small, simple, sounds great and works well with bass. EHX has been hit or miss with me in terms of build quality, but the Small Stones I've tried have all been good.

But to be clear, there are a lot of people that love the MXR Phase 90 and its many variants. I'm just not one of them. But I'd be remiss not to mention it.

Old DOD phasers from the late 70's/early 80's can be had cheap and I love the tones of most of them (490, 201/401. 595) but their bypass ranges from okay to poor.

The Boss PH-3 is fun and has a bunch of different modes, but it also cuts lows and has a very synthetic sound to it. But I like it a lot for dub guitar stuff.

Hope that helps.

 

[jucas]

Didn't think this was worth starting a new thread, but have you (or anyone) used a diamond phaser? I like diamond, and I like phasers, and its entirely possible that I'm too lazy to build one, so the diamond is looking like a solid option.

Well, so are a bunch of others, but we'll be patriotic for now and look at the Canadian Solution.